Testing for HIV has long carried a certain stigma that has
discouraged some from getting tested. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention now recommend HIV screening as a routine
part of medical care. Colleges should continue this trend.
Although the recommendation from the CDC may still miss some of
the most at-risk groups ““ the poor, drug users and so on
““ because they are less likely to be insured and have access
to routine medical care, it should make great strides toward making
HIV testing more commonplace and accepted.
It’s estimated that about a quarter of Americans infected
with HIV don’t know it ““ about 250,000 people. Carriers
can live unaware of their HIV-positive status for a decade or
longer, not only putting their own health in danger but risking the
health of others they could unknowingly pass it to.
Contrary to the stereotypes ““ that HIV is a gay disease or
that only drug users get it ““ the HIV infection is spread
across all ages, races, socioeconomic groups and every possible
category you can divide people into. College students are at risk,
especially from contracting HIV through unprotected sex.
The CDC adding HIV testing to routine bloodwork for patients
ages 13 to 64 is a bold and necessary step.
Colleges should take the next step by adding an HIV test to the
ranks of other medical tests and vaccinations that are required
before students can matriculate. Colleges should never see the
results of such tests, for whether we like it or not, HIV still has
a stigma in our society, but it’s crucial that people know
their HIV status even if it has to be forced upon them.
Students should still be able to opt out of the test if it
violates their religious or ethical beliefs, just as with
vaccinations.
For many students, entering college is a time of freedom and
independence (and promiscuity), and a sense of responsibility
doesn’t necessarily follow. Sometimes students don’t
have or just choose not to use a condom. Others think HIV could
never happen to them.
Required testing would sober students to the reality of HIV and
create an environment where testing is not uncommon, but expected.
Students who go into college knowing that they have HIV are going
to be far more responsible about their actions.
The requirement and others like it would help break the stigma
toward HIV testing. There are already HIV-testing drives on campus
and campaigns to spread awareness, but there needs to be more. If
all students were tested for HIV, it would no longer be
uncomfortable or uncommon, and hopefully it would encourage
students to continue getting tested throughout their lives.
UCLA already mandates proof of hepatitis B vaccination, and
other schools often require other vaccinations and tests. Many
states require HIV testing for both partners before acquiring a
marriage license, though California currently does not. We can be
and should be doing more to prevent HIV, educate the public about
it, and require our citizens to know their status.
As more people get tested more often, the less pervasive the
stigma and the less likely another person will contract HIV. About
250,000 people are HIV-positive and don’t know it. We have
the power to lower that number. And steps such as required HIV
testing should be an easy decision.